Like everyone else, I have my misgivings about shopping online. I've had my fair share of orders that went wrong. So here's a tip on buying promotional items online: Read the product reviews. There's nothing that beats a firsthand experience and an honest review by a discriminating customer. If you don't trust the vendor, find out what the company's customers say about it. There's so much you can glean from product reviews. What's the exact shade of blue that this shirt comes in? Does the tag scratch? Does the imprint on the promotional ballpen wear off after a month? Does the ink dry up quickly? Maurice Perigo of the Washington State Department of Transportation recently wrote us about the Profiles drawstring totes that she ordered as conference giveaways: The attendees loved the bag! It is not a typical business-type conference bag that many of the attendees have collecting dust in their offices. . . . I really appreciated [Vanity Holt's] customer service and am looking forward to another opportunity to do business with [her] and [Branders]. (Read full-length review here.) Thanks, Maurice, for sharing your review! I am sure other customers will find it useful. If you're a Branders customer, why not help another by recommending ...

I'll let you in on a little secret. We're running a free shipping offer on a couple of promotional items at Branders.com. I thought you, blog reader, would like to know that, since you probably haven't signed up for my newsletter. I have a couple of favorites in the list, among them the Pianzor tote, which supermarkets/grocers can give away to discourage and cut down on the use of plastic bags. It's also a perfect giveaway for any outdoor event: a picnic, beach getaway, a cookout (a BBQ feast is a good idea for a fund-raiser). Resorts, spas, bed-and-breakfasts, which are seeing a rise in occupancy as the weather gets warmer can make some money on the side with imprinted merchandise like this Pianzor tote. There are 9 other items that are shipping for free until May 31, 2009. Don't miss out on these special subscriber-only promos! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Here's a way to make amends for all the PET and disposable water bottles you've consumed in the last three decades of your life: Take it shopping with you. Bring it on a picnic. Use it as a lunchbag. We're talking about the Recycled Anytime tote, a lightweight bag made from 90% PET (polyethylene terephtalate, or the material found in mineral water bottles) and 10% polyester. With 9-inch-long handles, this promotional bag is perfect for trade shows, supermarkets (remember: plastic bags will be banned in LA in less than year), and just about any marketing event. If you've made it a habit to place press releases and catalogs in paper bags, why not do the environment a good turn by switching to this recycled bag? Not only does it showcase your logo in all its colorful blown-up splendor, Mother Earth will give you brownie points for being kind to her. Get subscriber-only discounts on promotional items when you sign up with the Branders newsletter.

I mentioned the other day that moms get more say in what brand to buy, simply because they control the purse strings in the house. So if you're looking for ways to get your brand visible to mothers, here are a number of items that will catch attention: Made in the US (and thus lower carbon footprint than one that's made in China), this promotional apron is made of 4.5mm vinyl and can be silk-screened with your logo. It can be adjusted with a 36-inch-long waist tie. Make housekeeping easier for moms with less tea stains and water rings. This promotional vinyl coaster will be a mom's best friend. With nonscratch velvet bottoms and signature Crossroads contrast stitching, this promotional item will make sure your brand becomes a household name. While moms are ever so practical 80 percent of the time, they'd also like a little indulgence every now and then. This mini piccolo tote is understated elegance that can be paired with a Sunday dress but practical enough to tag along to the supermarket. Get subscriber-only discounts on promotional items when you sign up with the Branders newsletter.

It's almost a month away to Christmas! Have your Christmas giveaways been ordered? You don't have to withdraw from the festivities even with the bad economy. The holidays and the end of the year are the best time to say thank you to customers for their loyalty and to employees for sticking it out with you despite the bad times. Here are some possible Christmas giveaways--they're currently on sale, so why not buy a lot of these? I'm sure you'll be needing these in the coming months. Promotional aluminum sports bottle, now at the bargain price of $3.68 Custom canvas tote, now selling for $1.35. This will make a great giveaways for grocery stores and organic markets, especially as some cities in the US are starting to ban plastic bags. Kodiak bowler bag (a steal and a great Christmas gift to clients!), now at $14.73, a 50% savings from the original $31 price tag.

Branders client Debbie Davis ordered these promotional tote bags for her travel agency, Davis Day Trips, which organizes sight-seeing day trips to museums, cruise packages, and even Broadway shows. "My sales rep Thine Labrador had suggested the Mega Show tote bag to me, and I'm so glad I took her suggestion," Debbie shares. She says these promotional tote bags are very useful during the "one-day get-away trips" she organizes: These bags help promote her business. Clients use them as overnight bags. "The bags are durable, fold up and store easily, and are large enough to hold a ton of items," says Debbie. The Velcro closure makes sure one's things don't spill out. These promotional tote bags can be used to hold souvenirs. What's a trip without shopping, right? Some of Debbie's trips, like the one to the Jersey Boys Broadway show, includes time on your own to explore New York City. The bags hold food and everything else Debbie needs during the trip. "I use several totes throughout the trip to carry all of the snacks that I pass out to my customer on our bus rides, as well as DVDs, books, and magazines," Debbie shares. She also offers a useful tip to make long ...

Are you planning early for a Christmas party? Here are some practical Christmas giveaways below $5: Promotional ripstop backpack (SALE! $4.10) - it's made of 450d ripstop material and features a rubber grip handle and an opening for a music player's headphones. Write N Roll promotional luggage tag (as low as $3.44) - this one's a perfect gift for employees who are constantly traveling for business. Unlike the usual luggage tags that display one's personal information for all to see, this one rolls up to keep details safe from onlookers. Custom pocket-sized radios (as low as  $3.35) - people will surely bring this along with them wherever they go, and it's easy to do so, with the handy clip that keeps this nifty gadget in place in a purse, pocket, or briefcase. Ms. Hollywood promotional sunglasses (as low as $2.66) - a perfect fashion accessory for every woman. These custom sunglasses will make them feel like stars! Promotional metal money clips (as low as $2.86) are one of the few accessories that your male recipients will find practical.

Looking for a way to be remembered by this wired generation? Nothing is more indispensable these days than one's laptop--it's the way to connect with friends, family, and business contacts. What better way to endear yourself to this connection-obsessed generation than a promotional laptop sleeve (as low as $7.83) to cover their most treasured piece of gizmo? This 12x16-inch promotional laptop sleeve is made of jersey cloth and offers your logo an 8x5-inch-wide imprint area. It has a flap closure and contrast trimming. Colors combinations are pink and chocolate and black and gray. Methinks the pink one would be perfect for fund-raising breast cancer awareness programs.

Halloween is on its way! Have you ordered giveaways for the occasion? The sweet treats will surely be part of your shopping list, as will these reflective custom goody bags. But if you're looking for something inedible and for keeps, how about these mini Halloween bubbles? They're fun toys that the whole family can use. These promotional bubbles come with Halloween character caps in line with the season. For employees, how about these promotional pumpkin stress balls? I am also loving these cute bubble pens with the pumpkin head, which will surely get your logo noticed. If you're marketing to parents, these promotional rubber Frankenstein and vampire duckies are perfect bath-time entertainment for their kids. Remember to order in advance so you don't get left out in the fun this Halloween.

Shopping early for corporate gifts? Here is something your female recipients will love--and it's a steal, I tell you. Made of distressed leatherette, the Kodiak Bowler bag has a huge main compartment, a bottom zip pocket, and adjustable/removable shoulder straps. It IS a bowler bag, but who says it's only for bowling? I loved its distressed look and the fact that it's faux leather. It's an impressive gift, and every woman who sees another carrying this lovely bag will really stop dead in her tracks and will want one. What can I say, it's a bag to die for. And guess what? It's gone down to the sale price of $13.97 (original price was $29). Hurry now, before we run out!